Art and Media

Saturday, February 14, 2015

How to Get Rid of Weeds Without Chemicals

A nuisance for every garden owner: weeds, not only in garden beds, but also between pavers. However, using chemicals can be very dangerous for people and pets in your household.

Health problems can range from cancer to neurological disorders to asthma.

As weed killers find their way into our drinking water or our bloodstreams, depending on the nature of exposure, they have the potential to wreak havoc not only on the health of human beings but on that of all kinds of creatures. They have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption. A Swedish study published in the journal Cancer reported a connection between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and glyphosate use. An Ontario study of farmers found exposure to glyphosate was associated with a high rate of miscarriages.

.

Natural Ways to Rid Out Weeds:

The Easiest: Boiling Water

Boiling water kills the weeds by "cooking" them while they're still in the ground. Works only when the soil is dry. Boil water in a kettle, and dump it over the weeds. Even better if you have an electrical outlet in the garage or on outside walls. This method is also good to kill a cluster of Lily beetles or other bugs.

.

Use Soap

Mix 1 part liquid dish detergent with 5 parts water and spray it over the weeds' leaves. The soap will dissolve the natural waxy barrier on the leaves which holds the moisture. Result: the weed dehydrate and die down. Works best on sunny, hot days.The method can als be used to eliminate bugs.

.

Use Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol, known as rubbing alcohol works too. It makes an excellent weed killer. Fill it in a spray bottle and douse weeds with it. The alcohol will dry out the leaves, killing the plant.

.

Road Salt

Road salt, used in areas where it snows in winter, can wreak your grass. You can use this same principle to your advantage, because salt will also kill the plants you don't want. In a spray bottle, create a mixture of three parts water to one part table salt and spray it on the weeds. Adding vinegar and a drop of dish detergent to the mix, will improve the result.

.

Vinegar

Stubborn weeds can be easily killed with Vinegar contains acetic acid, a natural substance that burns plants' foliage, drying them up and die. It's inexpensive and easy to use. Simply pour undiluted white vinegar or pickling vinegar into a spray bottle and apply it directly to the weeds (only) that you want to eliminate.

.

If you want to remove weeds manually, never rip them out. Dig a hole to get the complete root. Otherwise they might grow back in short time. Don't work hard, word smart! Get light, professional tools for this job.

.

There is no reason to use hazardous and expensive chemicals to get rid of weeds. In the future if you want to reclaim your yard from their grasp, try one of these natural methods instead.

Neurological

Evidence links pesticide exposure to worsened neurological outcomes.[3] The risk of developing Parkinson's disease is 70% greater in those exposed to even low levels of pesticides.[12] People with Parkinson's were 61% more likely to report pesticide application than were healthy relatives. Both insecticides and herbicides significantly increased the risk of Parkinson's disease.[13] There are also concerns that long term exposures may increase the risk of dementia.[14]

In a new study, scientists found that Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns.

One specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself – a finding the researchers call “astonishing.”

“This clearly confirms that the [inert ingredients] in Roundup formulations are not inert,” wrote the study authors from France’s University of Caen. “Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death [at the] residual levels” found on Roundup-treated crops, such as soybeans, alfalfa and corn, or lawns and gardens.Read More: